Check controlled adjustable credit unit



Aug. 22, 1967 c. J. BOORSMA CHECK CONTROLLED ADJUSTABLE CREDIT UNIT Original Filed July 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W67 (3. J. BOORSMA CHECK CONTROLLED ADJUSTABLE CREDIT UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed July 11 1960 1967 c. J. BOORSMA 3,337,018

CHECK CONTROLLED ADJUSTABLE CREDIT UNIT Original Filed July 11, 1960 4 Sheets-$heet 5 1967 c. J. BOO'RSMA CHECK CONTROLLED ADJUSTABLE CREDTT UNIT 4 Sheets-5heet 4 Original Filed July 11, 1960 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,337,018 CHECK CONTROLLED ADJUSTABLE CREDIT UNIT ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The mechanism is a bi-directional rotary stepping switch used for registering the amount of credit stored in a coincontrolled machine. Two ratchet wheels (an Add wheel and a Subtract wheel) are mounted on the switch shaft with the teeth of each wheel facing oppositely. A driving solenoid acts on a pivot arm to engage the ratchet teeth of the Add wheel to rotate both wheels through a predetermined arc corresponding to a number of steps and an amount of credit. The travel of this pivot arm may be limited to lesser arcs by the actuation of either of two solenoids interposing the plunger of the actuated solenoid into a blocking position in the travel path of the pivot arm. Operation of either of the blocking solenoids limits the number of steps traversed by the credit wheels to either of two numbers of steps corresponding to predetermined lesser amounts of stored credit. The maximum or full number of steps for any single credit additive operation may be limited by the placement of a blocking screw in any one of a number of positions in the pivot arm travel path. The credit subtraction is effected by a solenoid operated pivot arm acting on the subtract ratchet wheel along with a travel limiting solenoid and one or more blocking screws.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 41,898, filed July 11, 1960, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to coin operated devices such as automatic phonographs and has particular reference to mechanisms of the type known in the industry as credit units for such devices. These credit units serve as memory devices with respect to the coins which may have been deposited in the machine, so that the mechanism will permit selection and playing of a number of records corresponding to the value of the coins deposited.

This has been a comparatively simple function in the past, due to the fact that the practice has been to set up a number of credit units corresponding to the total value of all the coins deposited, and to deduct one unit for each record played. Thus a five cent piece inserted into the machine would set up one credit unit, while two credit units would be established upon the deposit of a dime. Similarly, five credit units would be set up in the machine by the insertion of a quarter. One credit unit would then be cancelled out each time a record was played so that a constant computation of the paid credit units was maintained until the total value of the coins deposited had been exhausted.

For a number of years, however, the various types of credit units commercially available to the automatic phonograph industry have shown themselves to have shortcomings which seriously limited their usefulness, since they have been unable to conform to the changing requirements of the automatic phonograph industry, particularly, as to 1) changes in record pricing or bonus policies, (2) accommodation of extended play records and standard records in the same machines, and (3) conversion from three coin to four coin operation. As to the 3,337,618 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 first of the above items, it may be explained that while prior art credit units have normally contemplated playing one record for five cents, two records: for ten cents and five or six records for a quarter, it has become necessary in more recent years to increase the prices charged for rendition of the records, and that in so doing various operators have found it desirable to adopt different pricing schedules. For example, some operators may wish to set their machines to play one record for ten cents and three for a quarter, while other operators may desire to set their machines to play one record for ten cents, with four or even five plays for a quarter.

The utilization of extended play records on the same phonographs that carry records of standard length introduces further complications into the problem, since while some operators wish to set their machines to give one extended play record for ten "cents and three for a quarter, others may desire to charge fifteen cents for a single extended play record, with two extended plays for a quarter. In addition, many operators now desire to have their phonographs equipped with coin handling devices which not only handle five cent, ten cent and twenty-five cent pieces, but are also arranged to receive fifty cent pieces as well.

The net result of these developments is that there have come to be at least twelve to fourteen quite popular and generally accepted combinations of prices, and that various operators may not only differ as to the settings they prefer, but may wish to change the setting of any given machine from time to time in an effortto arrive at the best pricing policy for a given location or when a machine is moved from one location to another.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a credit unit for coin controlled mechanisms wherein the interrelated operating parts of the units are designed and arranged to provide an unprecedented range of available settings, applicable to suit the unit to the different variable factors noted above. This, in itself, presents a fairly difiicult engineering problem but it is further complicated by the fact that, to be commercially acceptable, such a unit should be compatible with the prior types of credit units commonly employed to the extent that the new unit may be substituted for the old in existing machines.

A further important object is to provide a credit unit so arranged that the unit may be changed from one to another of the various price combinations desired 'in an unusually quick, easy, and positive manner, without difficult or extensive adjustments, without requiring the work of a skilled engineer and without disconnecting or reestablishing any In short, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a simple credit unit which provides for:

(l) A wide range of pricing combinations;

( 2) Pricing differentials between individual records;

(3) Adaptability to three coin or four coin operations;

(4) Compatability with existing types of phonographs,

and

(5) Consisting of a simple, compact mechanical unit wherein the settings may be changed by simply changing the position of a few screws.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects, the present invention departs from the conventional practices of the prior art in several respects, but particularly in the fact that the present invention does not utilize a single unit of credit for each record to be played. Instead, it is arranged in such a manner that the playing of a record may represent one, two, or as many as three credit units. This arrangement, coupled with a coin control arrangeof the fixed circuitry of the mechanism.

ment such that the deposit of any individual coin may represent anywhere from one to nine units, makes possible a degree of flexibility heretofore unobtained in commercially available devices.

The manner in which the foregoing objects are accomplished will be best understood with reference to the drawings attached to and forming a part of the present specification, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged plan view of a present preferred embodiment of credit unit constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a similarly enlarged front elevational view of the unit illustrated in FIGURE 1. In both of these figures the counting or memory assembly of the unit is shown in a position representing five units of credit.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental front sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1 and illustrating the internal parts of the mechanism in their normal inactive positions.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental central sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIGURES 2 and 3 and showing the credit setting portion of the mechanism.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the left-hand side of the unit (as viewed in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3), with a portion of the side plate broken away to more clearly illustrate the internal mechanism.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmental front sectional view, generally similar to FIGURE 3, but showing only the left-hand or credit setting portion of the mechanism, with the parts of the mechanism shown in an operating position.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmental front sectional view, generally similar to FIGURE 3, but showing only the righthand or credit cancelling section of the mechanism in one of its typical operating positions.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the right-hand side of the mechanism (as viewed in FIGURES 1, 2,

and 3), with the lower portion of the side plate broken away to more clearly illustrate the internal parts.

FIGURE 9 is a detail plan sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 9-9 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a similar plan sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 10-10 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 11 is a simplified schematic diagram of some of the electrical connections between the credit unit and the coin control switches of a conventional automatic phonograph.

The several parts of the credit unit illustrated are mounted within a frame structure (best shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 5), consisting of a generally rectangular sheet metal back plate 10 interconnected to a smaller rectangular metallic front plate 11 by a pair of end plates 12 and 13. In the commercial embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the back plate 10 is provided with a pair of-headed studs 14 in the upper corners and has paired bayonet slots 15 on its opposite sides to provide for a quickly releasable mounting of the unit on other equipment. The end plates 12 and 13 each have rear mounting flanges 16 and 17, respectively, secured to the back plates by cap screws 18 and 19 as best shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 10. These end plates 12 and 13 also have front flanges 21 and 22, respectively, on which the front plate 11 is secured, as by the cap screw 23 hereinafter further described and by the cap screw 24 best shown in FIGURES 8 and 10. An insulating panel 25 of inlaid circuit board is mounted in spaced relation in front of the front plate by four cap screws 26 extending through the circuit board and through spacing washers 27 best seen in FIGURES 1, 5 and 8.

The circuit board 25 is essentially a control commutator, but is also used as a connector and terminal block to establish all of the electrical connections to the unit. It is accordingly provided with a multiplicity of parallel the individual contact members vertical metallic contact strips 28 inlaid along its lower edge, to mate with a matching connector receptacle (not shown) in which the lower edge of the board may be inserted. The individual contacts 28 are in direct communication with a plurality of integral eyelets 29 arranged to receive the flexible wire leads from the solenoids and switches of the unit, and extend through interconnecting conductors as illustrated, to a series of concentric semicircular commutator rings 31 to 35, inclusive (FIGURE 2), surrounding an inside commutator slip ring 36 from which a lead 37 extends to the eyelet 38. In addition to the generally arcuate commutator segments 31 to 35, there are a number of individual contacts 39, but since the commutator is used to control circuitry not directly related to the essential features of the invention described herein, it will not be described in detail, except to note that it is provided with a rotatable gang contactor consisting of a series of six parallel brush springs 41 carried on the insulating mount 42, an angularly disposed flange 43 of a bracket 44, which is in turn carried by a clamping member 45 secured to the central rotary shaft 46 of the mechanism by a clamping screw 47. The individual brushes 41 establish communication between the commutator segments 31 to 36 and selectively energize 39. In this connection, it will be understood that the point of contact between the individual brushes 41 and the surface of the commutative strips are radially arranged with the commutators mounted in a manner to move from a zero position (i.e., a position in which no credit has been established) indicated by the line 48 (FIGURE 2), to a position of maximum credit based about 270 clockwise therefrom and indicated by the line 49.

The shaft 46 extends rearwardly through a central aperture in the circuit board panel 25 (FIGURE 4), and passes entirely through the unit from the front plate 11 to the rear plate 10, and carries a pair of ratchet wheels 51 and 52 fixed on the shaft by cross pins or in any other convenient manner. The hubs 53 and 54 of the ratchet wheels are each provided with a pilot portion journalled in aligned apertures in the front plate 11 and the rear plate 10, respectively. The ratchet wheels 51 and 52 have teeth of saw-tooth form illustrated in FIGURE 3, arranged for cooperation with appropriate dogs, with the teeth of the front wheel 51 disposed in a manner suited for rotation in a clockwise direction, while the teeth on the ratchet 52 are oppositely disposed to advance the paired wheels in a counterclockwise direction. Stops 55 are provided to limit travel of the contactor between the lines 48-49. It will thus be apparent that the central shaft 46 of the device, the two ratchet wheels 51 and 52 and the contactor 4144 will at all times rotate as a unit, and will be capable of moving in either direction and assuming any position between the Zero and maximum positions. By reason of the function of these parts, they may be referred to as the counting assembly or memory device of the mechanism.

A ball detent 58 is held in light pressure engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 52 by a leaf spring 59, with the ball and springs supported by a bracket 56 adjustably secured on the back plate 10 by paired cap screws 57. The rotary counting assembly of the device will thus be held in any position to which it is moved by the credit establishing mechanism and the credit cancelling mechanism hereinafter described.

The credit setting mechanism (FIGURES 5, 6, and 9), consists of an operating solenoid, a pair of limiting solenoids and an adjustable stop screw so arranged that, upon the deposit of any coin, coin switches associated with the slug rejector of the phonograph (FIGURE 11), will cause the rotary counting assembly to be advanced in a clockwise direction through a path of movement which may be as little as one tooth of the ratchets 51-52 or as much as nine teeth. Similarly, the credit cancelling portions of the device on the right side of the frame (FIGURES 7,

8 and 10), comprise an actuating solenoid and a limiting solenoid which, together with a shiftable fixed stop, may be set to move the counting assembly either one, two or three units backwardly.

The credit setting mechanism is powered by a main setting solenoid 61 mounted on a bracket 62 atfixed to the back plate 10 by cap screws 63 entering bosses 64- on the bracket. This solenoid 61 has a central plunger 65, the downward movement of which is limited by an outwardly bent limit stop 66 at the lower end of the bracket 62. The upper end of the plunger 65 carries a slender push rod 67 having an enlarged head portion arranged to bear against a roller 68 mounted between a pair of downwardly disposed flanges 69 of a channel-shaped swinging bracket 71. The bracket is in turn mounted on the central shaft 46 between the inner hubs of the ratchet wheels '51 and 52. The swinging bracket 71 carries a slender cross rod 72 at the outer end, with an operating dog 73 at the forward end of the rod arranged to engage the teeth of the forward ratchet wheel 51. The dog is also provided with a hair-spring 74 which normally tends to hold the point of the dog against the teeth of the ratchet, and the uppermost beveled end of the dog is set in a position to bear against a projection 75 on the inner face of a credit stop arm 76, the hub 77 of which is mounted for rotation on the hub 53 of ratchet 51, between the ratchet wheel and the front plate 11 of the frame (FIGURE 4). The credit stop arm 76 normally lies in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 3, where it is held in the position by gravity, with the underside of the arm resting against a stop pin 78 projecting inwardly from the forward plate of the device. With the parts in this position, the dog 73 on the swinging bracket 71 is engaged by a longer stop pin 79 also mounted on the forward plate and projecting inwardly therefrom, in a manner such that the point of the dog is held away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

Upon energizing of the solenoid 61, the upward movement of the push rod 67 causes the enlarged head of the push rod to engage the roller 68 and swing the bracket 71 upwardly, carrying the cross rod 72 and dog 73 in an arcuate path of movement around the periphery of the ratchet 51. The initial movement of the parts allows the dog 73 to disengage the pin 79 and swing inwardly to engage the ratchet teeth of wheel 51. At about the same time, the dog moves into engagement with the projection 75 on the credit stop arm 76 so that the entire counting assembly is rotated in a clockwise direction until its movement is interrupted by a stop in the path of the arm 76. As seen in FIGURE 3, the arm 76 swings in an upwardly directed arcuate path of movement and, if permitted to move to the full length of its travel, will traverse an arc corresponding to about nine ratchet teeth.

It is a function of the present device, however, to provide for various selective degrees of rotation of the credit stop arm 76, and to this end the mechanism is provided with a lower limiting solenoid 81 fixedly mounted on the inner wall of the end plate 12 by cap screws 82 together with an adjustable limiting solenoid 83 mounted in plural notched bayonet slots 84 in the side wall 12 by paired cap screws 85. The plunger 86 of the solenoid 81 is so positioned that when the solenoid is energized, the plunger will overcome the hair-spring 87 at the rear end thereof and will project outwardly into the path of movement of the stop arm 76 in a manner to engage the step 88 at the outer end of the arm and interrupt the arcuate movement of the arm. The stop arm 76 also includes a second step 89, at a shorter radius than the step 88, and arranged to be intercepted by the plunger 91 of the upper limiting solenoid 83 whenever it may be energized. As mentioned before, this upper limiting solenoid 83 is adjustably secured to the inner surface of end plate 12 by paired cap screws 85 passing through triple notched bayonet slots 84 in the end plate 12 and arranged to be alternatively positioned in the lower, central or upper notches, it being understood that when positioned in the lower notch the projected plunger will intercept the movement of the stop arm 76 after rotation of the counting assembly two notches, while if positioned in the intermediate notch or the upper notch, the plunger will intercept the arm in the position to allow three or four notches of movement respectively.

An adjustable stop for the credit arm 76 is also provided by alternatively positioning the cap screw 23 (heretofore described and best shown in FIGURE 2) in any one of the arcuate row of screw holes identified by the numerals 2 to 9, inclusive, so that an extension tip 95 on the screw will project into the path of movement of the credit stop arm 76 and limit its swinging motion to a distance advancing the counting assembly from two to nine teeth of the ratchet wheels. In actual practice, one or more additional cap screws may be inserted in these screw holes, to insure rigid assembly of the front plate 11 on the forward flange 21 of the end plate 12, but if used, these screws are not provided with an extension tip and thus do not interfere with the swinging movement of the credit stop arm. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 9, the stop arm 76 has adequate clearance in the space between the forward end of the solenoids 81 and 83 and the flange 21. The arm is also guided and held out of contact with the flange 21 by a slide button 96 projecting from the forward face of the stoparm. Also, in actual practice, a switch comprising contact blades 97 and 98 is mounted on a bracket 99 adjacent the lower end of the main setting solenoid 61 so that the switch will be actuated in response to operation of the solenoid.

The credit cancellation URES 7, 8 and 10),

portion of the mechanism (FIG- includes a power solenoid 101 mounted on the bracket 62 beside the setting solenoid 61 and having a limiting stop 102 extending under the solenoid plunger 103 to limit its downward movement. The upper end of the power solenoid 101 includes a slender push rod 104 attached to the plunger and provided with an enlarged head portion arranged to engage a roller 105 mounted between the side flanges 106 of a channel-shaped swinging bracket 107 having one end pivoted on the central shaft 46 with its free end carrying a cross rod 108 on which a ratchet dog 109 is carried. The dog 109 is spring urged against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 52 but is arranged to engage one of the paired stop pins 110 and 111 extending forwardly from the back plate 10, so that the dog will be held out of engagement with the ratchet teeth when the parts are in their rest position illustrated in FIGURE 3. The dog is arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of wheel 52 upon the beginning of its upward stroke of movement, however, and will almost simultaneously engage a projecting boss 112 on the forward face of a cancel stop arm 113 having step portions 114 and 115 offset from each other and arranged to be intercepted by the extension tip 116 (FIGURE 1) of a shiftable stop screw which may be seated in either one of three screvg holes 117, 118 or 119 drilled through the back plate 10. Hi practice, screw hole 118 is substantially concentrically positioned with respect tot he plunger 121 of the shiftable stop solenoid 122 when set in its uppermost position. The solenoid 122 is adjustably mounted by cap screws 123 which project through a pair of bayonet slots 124 and may be seated in either the upper or lower notches of the slots (FIG- URE 8), it being understood that when the solenoid is mounted in the upper notches of the slots as shown, the plunger, when projected, will intercept the swinging movement of the cancel arm after the mounting assembly has been moved a distance of two teeth, while if positioned in the lower notch, the movement of the arm will be intercepted after movement corresponding to one tooth. Similarly, the screw holes 117, 118 and 119 are so arranged that when the screw 116 is inserted in the hole 117, movement of the arm will be limited to one tooth, while when inserted in the hole 118 the arm may swing through an arc corresponding to two teeth, and when in hole 119 the arm will swing far enough to set the counting wheels 51-52 '7 back a distance of three teeth upon each operation of the solenoid 122.

It is believed clear that with the structure described above, the counting device of the unit can be moved either forwardly or backwardly between the limits of movement indicated by the lines 4849 of FIGURE 2, and that whenever the contractor brushes 41 are moved as far as they will go in a counterclockwise direction they will break the electrical circuits of the commutator rings 33, 34 and 35 and the contacts 39 as they reach the line 48, or zero credit position. These contacts may thus be used to stop the machine and extinguish the lights thereof, indicating that all credit is exhausted.

The counting unit will be advanced from its zero position, however, by insertion of additional coins in the pho' nograph in a manner to actuate one or more of the coin switches CS-1, 08-2, 08-3 and 08-4 diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 11, which control solenoids 61, 81 and 83 of the credit setting mechanism. The solenoid 61 thus serves as power means to move the counting assembly in a clockwise direction, with its length of stroke governed by the movement of the plunger 86 and 91 which function as shiftable limit stops and cooperate with the stationary limit stop afforded by cap screw 23.

With the coin switches arranged for four-coin operation, the switch CS1 is used for fifty cent pieces, with the switch CS2 representing quarters and the switch CS-3 actuated by dimes. The switch CS-4 is then used for five cent coins, but with a coin deflector of flipper F which moves back and forth between two alternate positions so that the switch CS-4 is actuated only by every second coin received. When a half dollar is inserted, the switch CS- will swing the arm 76 and advance the ratchets 51-52 nine teeth, or such smaller number as established by engagement of the step 88 with the stationary stop screw 23, which may be set in any one of the holes 2-9, inclusive. When the solenoid 61 is energized by either of the switches CS-2 or CS-S, however, the stroke of the solenoid and the swinging arm 76 will be limited by the projection of the plunger 86 of the solenoid 81 or the plunger 91 of the solenoid 83 and, as heretofore described, the solenoid 83 may be relocated in any one of three positions to permit advancement of the ratchet two teeth, three teeth, or four teeth, respectively.

When the mechanism is used for five, ten and twentyfive cent operation, the switch CS-1 is used for quarters, with the switch CS-2 actuated by dimes, and the switch CS-3 actuated by five cent pieces, with the stationary and shiftable limit stops relocated as may be desired.

The cancellation of credits from the machine is accomplished by actuation of the power solenoid 161, either with or without energizing the solenoid 122. Thus, the operation of the phonograph circuitry responsive to the playing of an extended play record may be represented by the closing of contacts E (FIGURE 11), so that the solenoid 101 is energized and allowed to move the arm 113 the full length of its stroke, except as its movement may be limited by the stationary stop screw 116 set in one of the holes 117, 118 or 119. When a standard play record is reproduced, however, the effect may be represented by closing the contacts S and E simultaneously, so that although the power actuating solenoid 101 is energized as before, the plunger 121 of the solenoid 122 will be projected into the path of the arm 113, limiting it to a shorter path of motion which may be either one or two ratchet teeth, depending on the location of screws 123 in the bayonet slots 124.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an unprecedented degree of flexibility of adjustment of the credit unit, to conform with several variable factors of widely different pricing schedules, accommodation of extended play records, and adaptability to operation with three-coin or four-coin slug rejector systems. The design of the mechanism is also such that the playing of a single record may be effective to cancel an appropriate amount of credit by the movement of the counting mechanism through one, two or even three notches of movement. It follows that, since the credit setting portions of the device are designed to permit anywhere from one to nine steps of movement in response to the insertion of a single coin, any desired arrangement of pricing may be accomplished. These results are achieved, moreover, by an arrangement which is mechanically simple, well adapted to installation in existing phonographs and in new equipment, completely compatible with credit units heretofore manufactured, and so designed as to permit all necessary adjustments to be made merely by relocating the stationary limit screws or the shiftable solenoids, substantially without mechanical changes and without alteration of the electrical circuitry of the device.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic phonograph,

the combination of a plurality of coin switches, each actuated by one or more coins of a specified denomination, with each of the plurality of switches responsive to coins of different denominations;

a plurality of credit cancellation switches each selectively actuated by operation of the phonograph in playing different types of records; and

a credit unit including a counting assembly advanceable step-by-step and an electrical contactor responsive to advance of the counting assembly to stop the operation of the phonograph;

said counting assembly advanceable a predetermined and lesser settable numbers of steps in one direction in response to actuation of each of the aforesaid coin switches and advanceable in the opposite direction a first and a second settable number of steps on said selective phonograph operation,

first and second means responsive to selective actuation of the aforesaid credit cancellation switches to limit the advance of the counting assembly to a first and a second number of steps in said opposite direction;

the counting assembly including a rotatable shaft having a first and a second ratchet drive wheel fixedly mounted thereon oppositely disposed with respect to each other,

individual ratchet advancing members engageable with each of said ratchet wheels and normally out of operative engagement therewith;

a power actuating solenoid cooperative with each advancing member for individually causing same to engage its respective ratchet wheel to rotate the wheels and said rotatable shaft a predetermined angular distance on energization of the respective one of said solenoids;

at least one limit stop cooperative with each of said power solenoids to stop the rotation of the wheels on energization thereof at a lesser angular distance than said predetermined one, and

at least one shiftable limit stop cooperative with each of said solenoids to stop the rotation of said wheels at a lesser angular distance than said predetermined distance, and

means for varying the number of steps of rotation of said first ratchet wheel for said shiftable limit stop.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ratchet advancing members comprise a cancel stop arm rotatably mounted on said shaft,

a bracket rotatably mounted on said shaft,

a driving dog affixed to one end of said bracket and adapted to engage one of said ratchet wheels and said cancellation stop means,

a second bracket mounted on said shaft,

a second dog mounted on said second bracket,

a second of said power actuating solenoids operable to rotate said second bracket in said opposite direction so as to cause said second dog to engage said one ratchet Wheel and said cancel stop arm to cause rotaing detent engaging one of said ratchet wheels, and means of actuation of said nower solenoids.

of a plurality of denominations to add credits corresponding to the coin values and to respond to credit cancellation signals to subtract credits of different value,

directionally, in a first direction for adding credit in response to the operation of coin switches of various denominations, and in the opposed direction for subtracting credit in response to signals of credit cancellations of different magnitudes, comprising:

tion thereof in response to actuation of each of the credit cancellation switches,

said stationary limiting stop and at least one shiftable limiting stop actuatable by the aforesaid plurality of credit cancellation switches for limiting rotation of said cancel stop arm according to the credit cancellation switches actuated, and means for Changing the limits of rotation of said cancel stop arm.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein there is a holdr maintaining said driving dog and said second dog out 10 contact with their respective ratchet wheels prior to the 4. Credit storage apparatus adapted to respond to coins said apparatus comprising:

a bi-directional rotary stepper including a shaft for said stepper,

an add ratchet wheel and a subtract ratchet wheel mounted for joint rotation on said shaft, each of said wheels having oppositely facing ratchet teeth,

an individual add stop arm for said add wheel, said stop arm individually mounted on said shaft for rotation with respect to said shaft and said wheels,

an add bracket mounted rotatably on said shaft adjacent said add ratchet wheel,

a pawl mounted on said bracket,

an add solenoid,

said add solenoid energizable in response to a coin to drive said add bracket and engage its pawl with said add ratchet wheel to rotate both said ratchet wheels and said stop arm in an add direction toward a full arcuate distance indicative of a coin of maximum value,

a first add stop solenoid energizable when said coin is of a low denomination value to impede the motion of said stop arm,

interfering means on said stop arm engaging said bracket on impeded motion of said stop arm to stop the rotation of said ratchet wheels at a lesser arcuate distance than said full distance,

a second add stop solenoid energizable when said coin is of higher denomination to limit movement of said stop arm to a second larger arcuate distance at which said interfering means engages said add bracket to stop the rotation of said ratchet wheels at a greater arcuate distance than said lesser distance and at a lesser distance than said full arcuate distance.

5. Credit registration apparatus adapted to rotate bia rotatable shaft,

at least one manually settable power stop means for each of said mechanisms, each of said power stop means representative of a credit change less than the maximum change, and means in each of said mechanisms for maintaining each stepping assembly out of engagement with its ratchet wheel; common detent means for holding the ratchet wheel between actuations of said power driving means;

means operative on actuation of a power driving means to engage the actuated power driving means for rotation of the ratchet wheels to register a change in credit,

means responsive to the actuation of a respective one of said power stop means when less than a maximum change in credit is to be registered to impede the movement of the stop arm of the actuated power means to stop the rotation of said ratchet wheels to register the lesser change in credit.

6. Credit storage apparatus adapted to rotate bidirectionally, in a first or add direction in response to the operation of coin switches of various denominations, and in the opposed or subtract direction in response to credit cancellations of different amounts,

comprising:

a rotatable shaft, a credit adding mechanism, and a substantially similar credit subtracting mechanism; each of said mechanisms comprising:

a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel stepping assembly mounted on said shaft, individually actuatable electromagnetic driving means for each of said mechanisms for rotating said ratchet wheels jointly through an arc comprising a predetermined number of steps, at least one manually settable electromagnetically actuatable stop means for each of said mechanisms for limiting the rotation of said wheels to at least one arc comprising a lesser number of steps, means in each of said mechanisms for normal- 1y maintaining each said stepping assembly out of engagement with its ratchet wheel; common detent means for maintaining both ratchet wheels stationary between actuations by either driving means to indicate the amount of credit stored on said apparatus; and means in each stepping assembly responsive to the actuation of its driving means for cam ming the respective one of said stepping assemblies into engagement with its ratchet wheel to release said common detent means and rotate both said wheels through an are indicative of a change in stored credit, and means in each stepping assembly responsive to the actuation of one of its stop means for limiting the rotation of said ratchet wheels to an are indicative of a. lesser change in stored credit.

No references cited.

SAMUEL F. Primary Exgminer. 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH, THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF COIN SWITCHES, EACH ACTUATED BY ONE OR MORE COINS OF A SPECIFIED DENOMINATION, WITH EACH OF THE PLURALITY OF SWITCHES RESPONSIVE TO COINS TO DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS; A PLURALITY OF CREDIT CANCELLATION SWITCHES EACH SELECTIVELY ACTUATED BY OPERATION OF THE PHONOGRAPH IN PLAYING DIFFERENT TYPES OF RECORDS; AND A CREDIT UNIT INCLUDING A COUNTING ASSEMBLY ADVANCEABLE STEP-BY-STEP AND AN ELECTRICAL CONTACTOR RESPONSIVE TO ADVANCE OF THE COUNTING ASSEMBLY TO STOP THE OPERATION OF THE PHONOGRAPH; SAID COUNTING ASSEMBLY ADVANCEABLE A PREDETERMINED AND LESSER SETTABLE NUMBERS OF STEPS IN ONE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF EACH OF THE AFORESAID COIN SWITCHES AND ADVANCEABLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION A FIRST AND A SECOND SETTABLE NUMBER OF STEPS ON SAID SELECTIVE PHONOGRAPH OPERATION, FIRST AND SECOND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SELECTIVE ACTUATION OF THE AFORESAID CREDIT CANCELLATION SWITCHES TO LIMIT THE ADVANCE OF THE COUNTING ASSEMBLY TO A FIRST AND A SECOND NUMBER OF STEPS IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION; THE COUNTING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A ROTATABLE SHAFT HAVING A FIRST AND A SECOND RATCHET DRIVE WHEEL FIXEDLY MOUNTED THEREON OPPOSITELY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, INDIVIDUAL RATCHET ADVANCING MEMBERS ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OF SAID RATCHET WHEELS AND NORMALLY OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH; A POWER ACTUATING SOLENOID COOPERATIVE WITH EACH ADVANCING MEMBER FOR INDIVIDUALLY CAUSING SAME TO ENGAGE ITS RESPECTIVE RATCHED WHEEL TO ROTATE THE WHEELS AND SAID ROTATABLE SHAFT A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR DISTANCE ON ENERGIZATION OF THE RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID SOLENOIDS; AT LEAST ONE LIMIT STOP COOPERATIVE WITH EACH OF SAID POWER SOLENOIDS TO STOP THE ROTATION OF THE WHEELS ON ENERGIZATION THEREOF AT A LESSER ANGULAR DISTANCE THAN SAID PREDETERMINED ONE, AND AT LEAST ONE SHIFTABLE LIMIT STOP COOPERATIVE WITH EACH OF SAID SOLENOIDS TO STOP THE ROTATION OF SAID WHEELS AT A LESSER ANGULAR DISTANCE THAN SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, AND MEANS FOR VARYING THE NUMBER OF STEPS OF ROTATION OF SAID FIRST RATCHET WHEEL FOR SAID SHIFTABLE LIMIT STOP. 